Refrigerator display case



Sept- 1, I925. 1,552,237

T. A. sALA REFRIGERATOR DISPLAY CASE Filed Aug. 15. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 1, 1925.

T. AQSALA REFRIGERATOR DISPLAY CASE.

Filed Aug. 15. 1924 2 Sheets-She 2 Patented Sept. 1 1925.

UNITED STA THEODORE A. 'SALA, or DALLAS, TEXAS.

REFRIGERATOR DISPLAY CASE.

Application filed August 15, 1924 Serial No. 732,267.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE A. SALA, citizen of the United States of America, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and 5 State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerator Display Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invent-ion relates to new and useful improvements in refrigerator display cases. The invention has particularly to do with that type of display case which is used in stores and markets fordisplaying perishable articles of food such as meats, eggs, butter and the like; the case in most instances serving as a counter and the ice chamber being concealed at one or both ends.

Such cases are frequently opened, and there is thus admitted warm air. The cold air settles to the bottom of the case and the warm air rises to the top and forms a. blanket. shelf or bottom of the case now in com 55 mon use can be used for the storage of foods requiring a freezing or very low temperature. Tests have shown that in the average refrigerator case the temperature on the bottom shelf would be approximately 32 de- 0 grees Fahrenheit, while the temperature on the top shelf would register from 45 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

It is customary in some 3 under the display chamber. Such a practice creates too much moisture in the display chamber, where it is highly desirable to have the air of'an even range of temperatures and as dry as possible.

i The object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator display case in which an even range of temperatures may be maintained and more eflicient refrigerating obtained.

An important object is to maintain the entire display chamber at a low range of temperatures, say from 28 degrees Fahrenheit 011 the bottom shelf to to 40 degrees, Fahrenheit, on the top shelf, the variation being confined to a short length.

Another object is to maintain a low or freezing temperature across the entire bottom shelf, even at a point remote from the ice chamber. v

A particular object, is to cool the alr or produce a low temperature in the display For this reason onlv the lower 'lIlVeIltlOIl Wlll be hereinafter described totypes of cases, to have the brine solution pass to a tray chamber, by circulation instead of radiation or mere heat exchange, and to utilize the variation in the temperatures ofthe air stratus at different elevations in the display chamber, as Well as the warm air admitted by opening the doors, to promote circulation through. the ice chamber and thus maintain a range of low temperatures which will be substantially constant and subject to little variation.

It is well known that the condition of the air has much to'do with the degree of temperature, at which certain foods, such as meats, must be kept; and-where the air is so called dry at higher temperature will preserve them, better'than a low temperature and so called wet air.

prevent the passageof liquid to or under the display'chamber from the ice chamberv and tosupply the display chamber with cold dry air. 7

One of V the dominant ob ects of my invention is to TES min-:lvr OFFICE.

A construction designed to carryout the gether with other features of the invention., i

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and, by reference. to the. ac companying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a refrigerator display case constructed in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1',

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 3+3 of Fig 1,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View of a. modified form, and

Fig. 5 is a similar view of another modification.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates thebottom of the refrigeration case, 11 the rear wall, 12 the front wall and 13 the end walls, all of which may be suitably constructed, in accordance with the usual practice in this art or as the specific necessity' may require; such walls usually being of several vertical sections of Wood, metal and insulatingmaterial, els. H p p 7 In carrying out my invention it is necessary to circulate the air and in order that as well as glass pan no blanket or strata ofdormant air may re I main in the display chamber, the ice chamber is extended "above the same. I have shown in Figs. 1 to 3, an ice chamber 14 at each end of the case. ice chamber extends several-inches above the top 16 of the display chamber 17 which is disposed between said ice chambers. The top 16 is formed of spaced glass plates, while a similarly constructed panel 18 in clinedin the front wall 12,, forms the front of the display chamber. Doors 19 give access to the ic e chamber; While doors 20 in the rear wall 11, areprovided for the display chamber.

At .each end of the display chamber is provided a vertical partitionwall 21 terminating just above the bottom 10 and'extending upfinto', thetoppf the elevated por tion of the ice chamber, whichjthus overhangs said; wall. wall wterminates below=the top 15,'but well above thee-top l6,thus -forming an opening 22 and a duct123 leading from the display chamberup to. the. said opening, Between the bottom-of eachjpartition wall. 21 and the bottom 10 is formed-an opening 24.. It is important mature partition -walls be imperforate as well-as being insulated so that the heat exchange therethrough, is reduced to a negativedegre'e..

A perforated 'or equivalent bottom shelf 25 has its ends secured :to the-.bottom of the partitions and extends across. the dis play. chamber. This shelf is spaced above the bottomlO, whereby a fine 26 is formed. An intermediate..foraminous shelf 27: and a similar-v top shelf .28, are supported in the display chamber. Access to these shelves is hadby opening the doors 20.

Icemay be placed in 'the chambers 14 in any suitableflmanner,butl have found it satisfactory to mountun each chamber,

a verticalrack 29 having horizontalrails 30 extending. fromthe front to the rear ofsaid chamber, but spaced from-the walls thereo f In Figs. 1, 2;and of'such rails supporting metals drawers 31, in superposed relation. These drawers may be suitably constructed andcanbe with-- drawn by opening the doors l9. The drawers are spacer apart so as to provide ample.-

space for circulation therearound. It is preferable-to v have the top of the upper grawerbelow the opening 22 in each cham- In operation the air' .in the ,case will circulate, due -to [displacement by changedn temperature, Cold, airv settles; or. moves downward, particularly as its temperature is lowered, while warmf airrisesv or moves up: ward. The drawers31 being iced, which usually consists. in partially filling the same; with brine water and thencompleting with ice, ,the .temperature is gradually ,lowered. This icausesthe cold air'to'm'ove downward The top 15 of each' The upper end-[of the 3 I have shown two pairs in the ice chambers 14: and pass out through the openings '24: toythe flue 26. This cold air passes up through the perforated shell 25 into the display chamber 17. The warm air in the display chamber rises, passes up through the channels 23 at each end of the chamber" 17 and enters the ice'chambers 14 through the openings 22.

The hottest air is at the top of the channels 23 and at this point is brought under he cooling influence of the 'ice chamber, thus the be admitted and this will accelerate the cir culatron.

the channels 23, which willdraw the'warm air from the top of the display chamber so.

it will be censtantly' replaced byair of a lower temperature. The insulated parti tions prevent such heat exchange as would tend to retard the circulation. I

The circulation will not only .keep the display chamber supplied with cold air at a low temperature, but will promote such evap-v oration that the air entering the fiue 26 from the ice chambers will be free from excess moisture and will be substantially ,dry as Experiments have 7 it is known in this .art. shown that a substantially even temperature is had clear across the bottom shelf 25 and the temperature at the center is substantially the same as at the ends. Tests have been made ,showinga temperature of 28 degrees Fahrenheit entirely across the bottom shelf. air willbe carried temperature at theshelf 28 and a much' lower temperature atthe shelf 27,than is possible with other refrigerator cases.

lVar-m air admitted when the doors 20 are opened is quickly displaced-and does not effect the change in temperature usually.

had; in this invention where a temperature of 28 degrees l ahrenhe-itis had at the bottom shelf, degrees'Fahrenheit isfound at the top shelf 28. 111' tests made of cases now in common use, where the passes direct into the displ'a'ychamber from the ice chamber withit has been found that with.

out circulation, a temperature of28 degrees, Fahrenheit 011' the bottom shelf, next to the ice chamber,

the temperature atthe center of saidshelf will be several degrees higher and the terniperature atthe top shelf will range; from &5' tote; degrees Fahrenheit Tests have standing for several;

also shown that "after air can move in one direction only and: that is up through the displaycha n-x her and down through the ice chambers."

' Each time-a door is opened, warm'air will The circulation will be more or" lessrapid and will create .a draft up through...

@wing to the circulation the cold. I to a higher elevation in the. display chamber, than is usually ob a temperature of from 38 to 40 V hours, as overnight, both the bottom of the flue 26 and the bottom of the ice chambers, were free from moisture.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modified form in which the 'ce chamber at one end is omitted and the display chamber 17 is closed at this end by an insulating wall 13. In the ice chamber, a greater number of drawers 31 are shown mounted in a suitable rack 29 on rails 30; however the drawer arrangement is optional. The bottom shelf 25 and the other arrangements are the same. In this type the cold air will pass along the flue 26 and up through the per forations into the display chamber. Repeated tests have produced the same temperatiue at each end of the chamber 17. In Fig. 5 another form is shown which differs only in the bottom shelf, a portion 25 of which is imperforate and a section 26, remote from the ice chamber, is perforated. The length of the perforated section may vary. .This form is found to enhance the circulation and has advantages for some purposes.

It is important that the partitions extend above the display chamber and the channels be provided between the partitions and the display chamber, so that the air can not escape into the ice chamber below the top of the ice receptacle. It is very important that no liquid be conducted or permitted to pass into the flue 26 below the display chamber. The refrigerating receptacles should also be distributed vertically of the ice chambers and no open brine trays should be used on the bottom of the ice chambers. There should be no obstructions between the upper strata of the air in the display chamber and the channel leading to ice chamber.

IVhile I have set forth the advantage of excluding liquids from the flue 26, under the display chamber and obviating the use of brine trays in the bottom of the display chamber, it is to be understood that such trays may be used as the circulation which is had with my invention will improve the refrigerating qualities of any case and the invention contemplates both the use and the omission of such trays, or solutions.

Various changes in the size and shape of the different parts, as well as modifications and variations may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

lVhat I claim, is:

1. In a refrigerator case, a display chamher, a refrigerating chamber at one end of the display chamber extending above the top of the display chamber, an imperforate insulating partition between the chambers, the upper end of the refrigerating chamber overhanging the partition, a vertical pas sage leading directl from the adjacent end of the display cham er up to the side of the partition, there being an opening between the upper end of the passage and the ice chamber, the partition terminating near the bottom of the ice chamber, there being an opening under the partition between chambers.

2. In a refrigerator case, a display chamber, a vertical refrigerating chamber having its "upper end extending above the display chamber, an imperforate partition separating the chambers and extending into the upper end of the refrigerating chamber above the display chamber and spaced from the side wall of the refrigerating chamber, a vertical air passage extending from the adjacent upper end of the display chamber to the top of the refrigerating chamber, the lower endof the passage opening into the display chamber, the top of the partition terminating near the top of the refrigerating chamber, there being an air passage between the top of the partition and the top of the. refrigerating chamber, connecting with the vertical air passage, the partition having its lower end terminating immediately over the bottom of the case and providing an outlet at the bottom of the refrigerating chamber, and an air conducting flue leading from said outlet in the bot tom of the display chamber.

3. In a refrigerator case, the combination of a display chamber, a vertical refrigerating chamber having its upper end extending above the display chamber, an imperforate partition separating the chambers and extending into the upper end of the refrig era-ting chamber above the display chamber and spaced from the side wall of the refrigerating chamber to provide a vertical passage extendin from the adjacent end of the display chamlder, the top of the partition terminating near the top of the refrigerating chamber, there being an air passage between the top of the partition and the top of the refrigerating chamber connecting with the vertical air passage, the partition having its lower end terminating immediately over the bottom of the case and providing an outlet at the bottom of the refrigerating chamber, an air 7 leading from said outlet in the bottom of'the display chamber, andremovable ice receptacles in the refrigerating chamber separate In testimony whereof afflx my signature.

THEODORE A. SALA.

conducting flue 

